Sexual harassment at workplaces often takes suble forms, says Justice Anitha Sumanth

Sexual harassment often takes subtle forms and may not always be immediately recognisable, said Justice Anitha Sumanth, Judge, High Court of Madras, here on Saturday, stressing the importance of gender sensitisation at workplaces.

“There are times when we may not be able to identify a particular act as harassment but we do know that it makes us uncomfortable,” she said.

She was addressing an awareness programme on “Gender Sensitisation and Elimination of Violence Against Women” organised by the Tiruchi District Judiciary.

The programme was inaugurated by Principal District Judge M. Christopher and saw the participation of District Collector V. Saravanan, Commissioner of Police N. Kamini, and Superintendent of Police S. Selvanagarathinam.

Ms. Anitha said while legal provisions exist to address workplace harassment, implementation, and awareness continued to be major challenges. The need for gender sensitisation not only in workplaces but also within families and educational institutions. “Often, even men may not be aware that their behaviour is making someone [colleagues] uncomfortable. That is why it is essential to open channels of communication — in our offices, homes, and in conversations with children. That is how gender sensitisation begins,” she said.

Fairness and respect

R.N. Manjula, Judge of the High Court of Madras, highlighted the importance of building relationships grounded in both fairness and respect. “If there is fairness without respect, it serves no purpose. If there is respect without fairness, it is not genuine respect at all,” she said.

She called for a transformation in societal mindset, driven by collective efforts to dismantle stereotypes. “We must ask ourselves hard questions — do we, in our desire for acceptance, allow gender biases to influence our decisions? Do we unconsciously conform to stereotypes?” she said.

P. Vadamalai, Judge, High Court of Madras, said that ensuring the safety of women was a shared social responsibility.

A handbook on the “Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act”, detailing legal mechanisms and procedures for addressing workplace harassment, was released during the event. The event saw participation from government officials, NGOs, women’s organisations, and students from various colleges across Tiruchi.